Aikido
WHAT IS AIKIDO?
Aikido is originally hearted from the Japanese art of
samurais. When O’sensei Morihei Ueshiba developed
Aikido in the beginning of 1900 century, he wanted to
create a martial art that leads away from the actual fight.
Like a friendly martial art. In this way Aikido differs
from other martial arts. What is being practiced is a
way of self-defence techniques but the intention is not
to learn how to defend. Aikido is a way to harmony and
smoothness.
There is no attacking techniques in Aikido when we
talk about training with a partner, not opponent. To
compete with each other is unthinkable. It is with cooperation
teach harmony between both powers. In that way real
done Aikido looks like it is settled, but all the techniques
are impossible to stand up against.
On the technical side, Aikido is rooted in several
styles of jujitsu (from which modern judo is also derived),
in particular daitoryu-(aiki)jujitsu, as well as sword
and spear fighting arts. Oversimplifying somewhat, we
may say that Aikido takes the joint locks and throws
from jujitsu and combines them with the body movements
of sword and spear fighting. However, we must also realize
that many Aikido techniques are the result of Master
Ueshiba's own innovation.
It takes a long time to learn Aikido, maybe a lifetime.
But then again, there is no age limit for practicing
Aikido. Aikido is as easy or difficult to learn both
for a child or an older, man and woman. In this long
journey you have only one opponent, and it is yourself.
Moreover, a competition match in Aikido would be very
boring because no one would start an attack against
the other one.
MEANING OF AIKIDO?
The word Aikido means "the way to harmony with
life power" or "the way of harmonious spirit".
The harmonious spirit is a whole meaning of Aikido training.
It shall not get robbed when the attack comes, it leads
aggresion away, so the attack cannot do any harm either
to the attacker or the one attacked. The Aikido practitioner
has concern for the well-being of the attacker.
HISTORY OF AIKIDO
Aikido's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was born
in Japan on December 14, 1883. As a boy, he often saw
local thugs beat up his father for political reasons.
He set out to make himself strong so that he could take
revenge. He devoted himself to hard physical training
and eventually to the practice of martial arts, receiving
certificates of mastery in several styles of jujitsu,
fencing, and spear fighting. In spite of his impressive
physical and martial capabilities, however, he felt
very dissatisfied. He began delving into religions in
hopes of finding a deeper significance to life, all
the while continuing to pursue his studies of budo,
or the martial arts. By combining his martial training
with his religious beliefs and political ideologies,
he created the modern martial art of Aikido. Ueshiba
decided on the name "Aikido" in 1942 (before
that he called his martial art "aikibudo"
and "aikinomichi").
COMPETITION
A general perception of Aikido is that there are no
competitions.
An official explanation for the lack of competition
in Aikido is that this particular martial art is based
on harmony, and competition is the antithesis of its
primary objective.
This is largely true, although there are some styles
which have limited competitions. Tomiki style, for example,
has matches using tanken (short swords) with dull blades,
and specific rules for scoring points. Also, some trainees
like to test each other to see if they can make their
techniques work against other trainees who are resisting
with full power, and vice-versa. This is constructive
in moderation since any weaknesses and defects in technique
become immediately clear, as long as the primary goals
of perfecting technique and developing cordial relationships
with other trainees is maintained in the forefront.
ORGANIZATIONS
IAF
In 1975, to unite Aikido practitioners from around the
world, the International Aikido Federation (IAF) was
formed, paving the way for Aikido activities to be conducted
on a truly global scale.
GAISF
The IAF became a Member of the General Association of
International Sports Federations (GAISF) at the GAISF
General Meeting in Monte Carlo, Monaco in 1984, and
participated in the Third World Games held in Karlsruhe,
West Germany in 1989.
JOCV
Commensurate to the development of Aikido throughout
the world, requests to send Aikido experts to teach
around the world surged from groups such as the Japan
Foundation and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. JOCV
volunteers teach Aikido for two years in the local country
and Japan Foundation participants stay for a variety
of lengths on several programs.
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